It is not at all surprising to note that the State cabinet has granted the casino vessels that remain anchored in River Mandovi a further six months to stay in the river and conduct their business. This decision of the cabinet has become routine as every six months the permission for the casino vessels to remain stationed at the point at which they are is renewed. The previous governments of Manohar Parrikar and Laxmikant Parsekar have take the same decision, and now the cabinet led by Dr Pramod Sawant has done the same. This has been happening for years, always with the assurance that the government will find another site to which to move the boats. Somehow, the identification of the alternative spot has not happened, and failing this the vessels remain where they are – always for just another six months.
Just two months ago the government had announced that it would shift the casinos from the River Mandovi, but it did not happen. Earlier in the year, the Panjim MLA – Atanasio Monserrate – had promised the voters during the campaign for the by-elections to the seat that he would shift the casinos from the river within 100 days of getting elected. He did get elected, but 120 days later the casinos remain where they have been all these years, with little hope that they may soon shift. The only change that has come about is the willingness shown by one of the casino operators to shift to the other side of the river. But willingness is far different from it actually happening. For the latter, Goa and in particular the residents of Panjim will have to wait. It has to, however, be remembered that the shifting of the casinos will resolve to a large extent the parking issues that the State capital is facing.
The casino vessels’ issue has been plaguing successive governments, with no solution forthcoming. Some effort was put a few years ago when the government identified Sancoale Bay area as a possible site for relocation of the boats, but the suggestion was met with stiff oppostion from the people of the area. The government is now considering shifting the vessels to the Aguada Bay area, but there is one major flaw in this proposition as the vessels are all river boats and would possibly not be able to stand the swells of the waters of the Arabian Sea, especially during the monsoon. So, practically, the government is still at a loss as to a site for their transfer.
With few imaginative solutions being thrown up by the authorities, it is difficult to believe that any government, or any political party for that matter, will move the casino vessels from the River Mandovi in the coming months or years. Past governments have gone on record to state that they cannot disturb the business as licences have already been granted. While this argument has its merits, why should it delay finding an alternative site for the vessels? All that the government has to do is give the casino operators another site from where to run their business. It is not closing them down.
It is of interest to the State, the people and the casino operators that there be a decision on this, a resolution that is final and acceptable to all concerned. Delaying in resolving this issue, will not serve any purpose but will keep it smouldering. It may require the government to enter into talks with the casino operators and also with the people from the area where the casino vessels are shifted before a final decision is taken. If that extra effort is required, then it has to be made, as it could finally close the issue, before it festers like a sore.
